If you plan to come to Durham next year, you might be like I was, terrified of what it will be like. I am a first-generation student, and to those like me, it can be hard to know what to expect from university. Even if someone in your family has been to uni, the advice and information they can offer might not feel helpful or specific enough.
Don’t worry
If I could have told myself one thing, it would have been not to worry and that I would enjoy doing Economics at Durham. Sometimes the course is challenging, and 9am lecturers are rarely anyone’s favourites, but it’s still a great experience. I have met some great people, both in my college and my course, and I have had a lot of fun so far.
Don’t take my word for it, I have evidence. The picture above with people in birthday hats is me and my friends in a lecture on my friend’s birthday. We got our lecturer to wear a birthday hat during the lecture and trust me when I say you will not truly understand the joy of being taught Statistics by someone in a birthday hat until you experience it for yourself.
Interesting modules
From a more academic perspective, the modules themselves are interesting too. I can’t say that I like all modules equally, some align with my interests more than others, and the same thing might apply to you. My favourite modules are Global Economic History (because the lecturer is so enthusiastic) and Economics of Sustainability (because I find the content interesting). Most people will probably find that some modules appeal to them more than others, but in my opinion, none of them are bad.
My other big concern was the workload. Studying at degree level has felt like a step up from A Levels, but I found that it was manageable. The teaching is a mix of seminars, lectures, workshops, and independent reading. This can all feel a bit overwhelming at first, but you definitely get used to it. You learn how to be more effective with your time, and what style of work suits you best.
Academic support
As well as scheduled contact time, the Economics department also has office hours you can meet with them to clarify anything unclear to you. The idea of this seemed intimidating at first, but it honestly isn’t. I met with my seminar leader for Economic Methods earlier in the year because of a lecture I was unable to attend and getting support on content I was unsure about made a lot of difference.
Ultimately, the point of all this is to say that, although Economics at degree level can be a bit intimidating, it is very doable and enjoyable too. I have loved my time at Durham so far and I am sure that those of you who join next year will feel the same.
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